Abu 'Afak

Abu 'Afak was an elderly Jewish man in Medina who is mentioned in early Islamic sources as having been killed on the orders of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Historical accounts, primarily found in Ibn Ishaq's Sirat Rasul Allah (Biography of the Messenger of God), state that Abu 'Afak composed verses critical of Muhammad and his followers, particularly after the killing of al-Harith ibn Suwayd ibn Samit, a prominent member of the Banu Aws tribe who had converted to Islam.

According to Ibn Ishaq, Abu 'Afak was assassinated by Salim ibn Umayr, acting under Muhammad's instruction. The exact circumstances and motivations surrounding the assassination are subject to interpretation and debate among historians and religious scholars. Some view it as a justified response to incitement and sedition, while others criticize it as an act of religious intolerance. The historicity of the event has also been questioned.

The story of Abu 'Afak is often cited in discussions about the treatment of dissent in early Islamic history, the limits of free speech, and the relationship between religious authority and political power. The incident remains a point of contention between different interpretations of Islamic law and ethics.